Overhead traveling crane



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

4 T. R. MORGAN, s1. OVERHEAD TRAVELING CRANE.

No. 496,434. Patented May 2', 1893.

T E mums PEIERS ca. FHoYouTua, WM)

S N A G D M R T OVERHEAD TRAVELING CRANE. A

Patented May 2, 1893.

amwmtoz Gaga- TATES Urvrra ATENT THOMAS H. MORGAN, 813., OF ALLIANCE, OHIO.

OVERHEAD TRAVELING CRANE.

SPECIFICATION forming pait of Letters iatent No. 496,434, dated May 2, 1893..

Application filed January '7, 1893. Serial No. 457.633. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MORGAN, Sr., of Alliance, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overhead Traveling Cranes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in supports for hydraulic cylinders, and particularly to overhead cranes having hydraulic devices for elevating the load.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective support or cradle for the hydraulic cylindeigthe said support or cradle being so constructed as to allow the cylinder to rock in an y and all directions but absolutely prevent it from rotating. In cranes wherein the load is lifted direct by a piston moving 1n a hydraulic cylinder it is necessary to provide means whereby the cylinder can swing or sway so as to accommodate itself to the movements of the weight carried thereby, but as it is connected to the pressure and exhaust plpes of the pump or pumps it must be prevented from rotating, as a tendency to rotary movement would strain and in a short time rupture the pipes.

My invention consists in the parts and combination of parts as will be more fully descr1bed and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a wow 1n side elevation of a crane embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in section of the cylinder. Fig. 3 is a view in section of the compensating ring and Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof. A represents a traveling crane mounted at 1ts ends on trackway B and carrying a trolley (J -which latter is adapted to move on the bridge and lengthwise thereof. This trolley is mounted on wheels propelled in any approved manner, and carries a motor D, the armature shaft of which is provided with a small pinion awhich meshes with larger pinion 1) fast on shaft E. This shaft E carries two pinions 0 one at each end, each of which engages a toothed wheel d fast on crank shaft e. The cranks of this shaft are connected to the pump pistons by the piston rods f.

The pumps form no part of my invention and can be of any approved form and construction and are connected by supply and exhaust pipes to the hydraulic cylinder F. This cylinder F, shown clearly in Fig. 2 rests in a vertical position between the bridge girders, with its lower end below said girders, and is provided at a point between its ends and nearly midway its length with a flange G the under face of which is convex, the curvature being in the arc of a circle. This flange is strengthened above by the ribs 9 integral with the cylinder and flange. This flange is provided on its under or curved face, at diametrically opposite points with the grooves h, the bottoms or bases of the grooves being concentric with the outer surface of the flange. The flange thus constructed rests on the compensating ring H which latter is concave on its upper face, the said upper face conforming in shape and curvature to the under face of the flange. This ring H is provided .on its upper face at diametrically opposite points ter register with the grooves h in the flange. These keys i while they prevent the cylinder from rotating independently of the ring, permit the cylinder to have a free swinging motion in the direction of the length of the keys.

provided it with integral keys t" on its under right angles to the keys 2' and in a vertical plane passing diametrically between said keys 1'. This compensating ring rests on a concave seat J rigidly secured to the trolley. The curvature of this seat corresponds with and is provided with grooves h adapted to receive the keys 2'. The opening in the seat for the passage of the cylinder is somewhat greater than the diameter of the cylinder so that the latter can rock or swing. By mounting the flange of the cylinder on a ring and the latter on a seat, the flange, ring and seat having faces formed in the arc of a circle and providing the ring with two pairs of diametrically disposed keys adapted to enter respectively the grooves in the flange and seat, it will be seen that the cylinder can swing on the ring in the direction of length of the keys engaging the flange. When the the curvature of the under face of the ring,

with the integral ridges or keys 4, which lat- To prevent the ring H from rotating I have face, the said keys being located in a plane at ICQ cylinder swings in a direction at right angles to said keys the ring moves with the cylinder, and hence slides on the seat. A swinging movement of the cylinder in any direction intermediate the two movements above referred to is permitted by the sliding of the flange on the ring and the sliding of the ring on the seat. By this construction the cylinder is as free to swing as if it were supported on gimbal joints, and at the same time it is solidly supported on all sides and not at two points only as in the case of the gimbal joint. The cylinder is connected to the pumps by jointed pipes in the ordinary manner which permit the cylinder to have a free swinging movement within reasonable bounds without straining.

It will be seen at a glance that instead of constructing the keys on the ring they could be on the flange and seat or the ring might be provided with one key and one groove and accomplish the same end, hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the employment of my improvements in connection with cranes, nor to the exact details shown and described but consider myself at liberty to make such changes as fairly fall Within the spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a hydraulic lift, the combination with a cylinder having a flange curved on its under face, and a seat curved on its upper face, of an interposed ring curved on its upper and lower faces to correspond to the curvature of the flange and seat respectively and means for preventing the cylinder from rotating, substantially as set forth.

2. In a hydraulic lift the combination with a cylinder having a flange curved on its lower fade and a seat curved on its upper face, of an interposed ring curved on its upper and lower faces to correspond with the curved faces of the flange and seat respectively, and keys and grooves on said flange, seat and ring whereby the cylinder is allowed a free swinging movement but is held against a rotary movement.

3. In an overhead traveling crane the combination with a traveling bridge and a traveling trolley thereon the latter having a curved seat, of a cylinder passing through said seat and provided with a curved flange and a ring intermediate the seat and flange, the said ring having faces corresponding to the curvature of the seat and flange respectively.

4. In an overhead traveling crane, the combination with a traveling bridge and atraveling trolley thereon, the latter having a curved seat, of a cylinder passing through said seat and provided with a curved flange, and a ring having curved faces intermediate the seat and flange, the said ring, flange and seat having keys and grooves for preventing a rotary movement of the cylinder, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS R. MORGAN, SR.

Witnesses:

'1. D. RUssELL, H. W. HARRIS. 

